Cooking Device Catalyst Self-Heating via Pressed Connection Zones

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cooking appliances with catalytic converter devices face limitations in self-heating due to restricted electrical energy supply, leading to inefficient odor removal from cooking vapors and fumes.

Innovation Solution

A cooking appliance with a catalytic converter device featuring a base unit made of electrically conductive material, enhanced with catalytically active elements or coatings, and improved electrical connection areas formed by pressed material areas or electrically conductive adhesive, allowing for efficient electrical energy transmission and self-heating.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If traditional electrical connection methods are used for the catalytic converter device, then the device structure is simple, but the electrical energy transmission is insufficient and self-heating efficiency is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical energy transmission efficiencyVSAvoidbase unit structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The base unit is designed with locally differentiated properties: pressed material areas with higher density and electrical conductivity are created at specific connection zones, while other areas maintain their original catalytic properties. This local quality enhancement improves electrical energy transmission precisely where needed without compromising the overall catalytic function or requiring complete structural redesign.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The base unit functions as a composite structure combining the original electrically conductive material with pressed material areas that have enhanced density and conductivity. This composite approach allows the integration of multiple functions (catalysis and electrical conduction) within a single component, improving energy transmission while maintaining structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Use of energy by moving object

If the base unit material is uniformly dense throughout, then manufacturing is simpler, but electrical energy transmission to connection areas is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical energy transmissionVSAvoidbase unit manufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of uniform density throughout the base unit, the invention applies local quality enhancement by creating pressed material areas with higher density at specific connection zones. This localized approach improves electrical energy transmission to these critical areas while keeping the manufacturing process relatively simple, as it only requires selective pressing at defined locations rather than complete structural redesign.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If electrical connection areas are not enhanced, then the device structure remains simple, but mechanical stability at connection points is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical stability at connection areasVSAvoidconnection area structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pressed material areas create local zones of enhanced density and mechanical strength precisely at the electrical connection areas. This local reinforcement improves mechanical stability and connection reliability without requiring complex structural modifications throughout the entire base unit, maintaining overall design simplicity while enhancing critical connection points.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This configuration enhances mechanical stability, reduces energy losses, and enables more effective odor removal by improving the catalytic converter's energy efficiency and temperature distribution, allowing for reduced electrical energy supply during operation.

Implementation Method 1

the base unit can be supplied with electrical energy for self-heating of the catalyst device, in which case the catalyst device is heated directly by supplying electrical energy through the electrical energy unit to the base unit of the catalyst device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Data Source

PatentEP3728955B1Cooking device with a specifically designed catalyst device, and method for producing a cooking device
Publication Date: 2022.01.05 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH
  • EP3728955B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3728955B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a cooking device (1) comprising a catalyst device (12) that has a base unit (15), which is made of an electrically conductive material and on which a plurality of catalytically active elements (16) or a catalytically active surface coating of the catalyst device (12) is arranged, and comprising an electric energy unit (13), by means of which the base unit (15) can be supplied with electric energy for a self-heating process of the catalyst device (12). The base unit (15) has electric connection regions (17, 18) for connecting the electric energy unit (13), and the electric connection regions (17, 18) are at least partly made of a pressed material region of the base unit (15) and/or at least partly have an electrically conductive adhesive (19). The invention also relates to a method.